Hope was a little surprised by Duke’s insight and concern. Most of the time her brother-in-law was either critical or dismissive of just about everything and everybody.

“I’m working in ER today. I’ll check on her,” Hope said.

“Okay. If she needs help, let me know,” he said, then left the ER.

He got back in his truck and headed for the Curl Up and Dye for his appointment. The last barber left Blessings some years back, and it was either a haircut at the ladies’ hair salon, drive all the way to Savannah, or do-it-yourself, and he’d only tried that once when he was twelve and the results had been disastrous. But his thoughts were no longer on the day ahead of him. He was thinking of the little redhead he’d left all alone in ER.

* * *

Cathy was disgusted with herself, and at the same time, a little anxious. Being self-reliant was fine when all your moving parts were working, but from the swelling on her ankle and the huge bruise already spreading on her hip, she wasn’t going to be jogging for a while, and getting to the Crown for groceries wasn’t going to be easy, either. She didn’t have one person in town she knew well enough to ask for help, and she was wishing she’d already leased a car.

Cathy was watching Rhonda, the nurse who was cleaning the scrape on her hand, when another nurse walked in. She was tall, dark-haired, and looked vaguely familiar.

“Hi, Rhonda, how is she doing?” Hope asked.

“We’re waiting for Doctor Quick,” Rhonda said.

Hope moved to the other side of the bed.

“Hi Cathy. I’m Hope Talbot. Mercy Pittman, the fabulous baker at Granny’s is my sister, and it was my brother-in-law, Duke, who brought you here. Has someone been in yet to get your personal information?”

“No, not yet,” Cathy said, but now she knew why the woman looked familiar. She looked like the woman she’d seen at Granny’s.

“Then they will do that shortly. Is there anyone I can call?” Hope asked.

“No, but I have a question. Does Blessings have a taxi service?” Cathy asked.

“We don’t have an official taxi service, but we have a whole lot of good people who will gladly give you a ride home. Do you live alone?”

Cathy nodded.

Hope glanced down at Cathy’s swollen ankle. “You won’t be driving for a while.”

“I don’t have a car here,” she said.

“Ah…came in on the bus, did you?” Hope said.

“No, I had been backpacking for several months when I got to Blessings. I decided it was time to find a place to spend the winter.”

Hope’s eyes widened. “Wow! Go you! As for getting home, that’s no problem. We’ll get you all sorted out. All it will take is one phone call. Have you met Ruby, yet?” Hope asked.

“No, who’s Ruby?” Cathy asked.

“Ruby Butterman. She owns the Curl Up and Dye. She’s the go-to person in Blessings when someone is in need. Her husband, Peanut, is the local lawyer.”